Tired Blogger & On To Hiroshima

Dear Readers,

We had a wonderful morning at Meiji Shinto Shrine which has a setting on stunning wooded grounds with enormous gates and smaller buildings of traditional Japanese architecture. A knowledgeable and kind priest lead the tour. It was utterly beautiful. We observed and participated in a ceremony. I cannot write much more at this time because I must pack for Hiroshima tomorrow and I am just a bit or maybe very sleepy. Please pardon any grammatical errors, as well. I have a new syndrome called language dysfunctionia confused-head: The Japanese words are confusing my English. Several traveling companions are interested in blogging but we are all very busy - we'll see what happens.

So tomorrow we take the bullet train. Other activities today included a visit to Yoyogi Seminar (a cram school); a tour of Yokohama, the historic port; and an evening meal in Chinatown. A few folks chose to visit Roppongi Art & Design Museum.

I am not sure what the internet access will be like but I will do my best. All are safe and well. Felice is off to an art opening this evening with a friend - by special invitation - who happens to be here in Tokyo, so Felice wins the Most Sophisticated Tokyo Activity Award. Hello back to Kate's aunt! Domo aregato. Thank you.

Baseball & Names for You

A group of us are just back from a baseball game, and it was quite something to see how the Japanese people cheered in unison and even came together as a team, literally, when the pitcher was having a hard time. That was the biggest meeting on the mound this Bostonian has seen yet! But it seems folks are looking at the blog, so I want to assure you that your person is here and busy. This is an attempt to give you a sense of who is on the trip, briefly, and to see your loved one's name if you have not yet. Those who have already been mentioned have, well, already been mentioned. Some people want to email you, but we have been so busy they have not had time to get to my computer - which is available to all.

Maureen was a lively karaoke singer last night and is an energetic dancer, as well. Karen took 2 years of Japanese in college and fortunately was a member of the group who attended the baseball game tonight, both because she is a very personable gal, and because her Japanese came in handy. Also, the melatonin she took on the plane worked beautifully (thanks to Mom, apparently). Christina was one of the people who joined karaoke late last night and seemed quite happy to be there. She has been in an upbeat mood since our plane trip. We explored Japanese-style bathrooms at the airport and survived - we were a bit nervous after the many warnings. They have a spot to place your baby safely so you can do what you need to while the babe is safe. Nifty!

There are two Kates. One has blond hair and one has dark hair. I am very sorry to identify them that way. You may refer to me as the Emily with curly brown hair, or even the older Emily. None of us are really on a last name basis. I will research this conundrum tomorrow. Blond Kate, whom I have spoken to on several occasions, seems to be having an excellent time. Brunette Kate got up very early yesterday with her pal Lauren, and when I met them they were talking very quickly about a lot of topics and finished up with directions to Starbucks. Clearly they had spent some time there! They are usually smiling and laughing when I see them. Mary and Joy have been pals "forever," and have traveled quite a bit. Mary, like Steve, is staying longer because her daughter is coming to see her in Japan. Carolyn and Beth were with us at the baseball game. Now I am getting very tired and I apologize for any inequalities here.

Beth recommends having your picture taken in a tree - you will always look better. Carolyn is a very good sport about walking long distances, but then we all were today! Marissa was our last baseball group member and she is braving the heat with a positive attitude even though it is not her fave choice of weather.

I hope if you did not find your person's name you will write me. Sumimasen. Excuse me (if I made a mistake). We are all here, walking at what one of our tour guides calls "a Japanese pace " - very quickly - and trying to take it all in. Tomorrow: A Shinto shrine, a cram school, and dinner in Chinatown. Ariagato. Thank you.

Busy Days in the Heat

Konichiwa, Readers and Families!

We have been having a great time and I apologize for my inability to blog yesterday - we were very busy celebrating Amy's birthday into the night, singing karaoke. The birthday girl was quite enthusiastic! Joy, Mary, Agnes, Emily - both Emilys (I am one of them), and even some shyer folks - Gemma and Peter - sang. Tim treated us to Japanese lyrics (he is one of our guides). The birthday girl was quite enthusiastic. Kates and Beth and Steve (I may have left someone out (the room was stuffed - so sorry -sumimasen) joined us later for a few minutes, too. In Japanese karaoke, everyone sits around and looks at a screen, the walls have lit images, people choose songs, and eat and drinks, and you are your own audience. Very much fun.

Earlier in the day, we visited Edo Tokyo Museum and viewed models of Japanese architecture and changes after the Edo period (Japan opened up to trade and ideas in 1868). Next, we went to a Buddhist shrine where you put in coins, shook a big shaker, pulled out a drawer, and got your fortune. If you did not like your fortune, you left it there. There was an enormous open-air market, where incense swirled out of one spot and beautiful gates marked entryways.

Today most of the group went to the fish market early in the morning. Others walked around the neighborhood or slept a bit. We spent the morning talking with a Japanese principal and a teacher. They work until eleven p.m. at night! It was a great discussion, and they had some questions for us, as well. This afternoon we braved crazy-hot weather and dripped our way through the beautiful and stately Imperial Garden, hosted by a former Head Gardener. He spoke of having drinks and playing tennis with the Emperor.

And now, thanks to Allison, many of us are off to a baseball game! All are safe and well.

Teachers in Tokyo

Konbanwa! Good evening. Please excuse any typos as I have been awake for what seems to be several days and several ghastly plane meals. Thank goodness for the wide selection of films. All members of the group are doing well and we are settled into our rooms in our hotel, which is reminiscent of the seventies, for those of us who were around then. There are some cultural differences, of course, and I did discover a box in our closet that looked like it might be the safe and I did pull down some buttons that seemed to cause a doorbell to ring. My roommate kept insisting that the porter was at our door with the luggage but I was sure that there was a bell in the closet. The porter seemed baffled when I asked him about the contraption in the closet. Hmmm.

Many of the group chose to stroll around our neighborhood, eat some sushi, and take in the lights. Others konked out. Oyasumi nasai - Good night!

Welcome to Boston2Japan 2009!

Hello, Travelers and Other Readers!

We depart for Japan in five days and so according to our Fearless Leader, or one of them, Peter Gilmartin, we are nearly almost packed. I am far too intellectual for that, as I am busy reading three books, deciphering all materials about Japan, reviewing how to be a respectful tourist, and deciding how much I will odorize, to use a euphemism (which may not be an actual word). This is important to know, as I need to decide how many shirts to pack. So far I understand that women should look neat and covered (less Britney Spears more Michelle Obama), that traditional bathrooms are a bit different from ours, that contemporary bathrooms require restraint (don't touch the buttons!), and that we are off for a glorious adventure. My favorite note from somewhere in our literature said something like "different, yes, wrong, no." Now if only we could figure that out within the United States!

Please give the url to your people if you would like them to read about your time in Japan. I will be happy to include notes or other information. We are all one group, and so the blog is really our blog. In Japan, I believe that the culture is more focused on the group than the individual. With that in mind, please feel free to consider this a place where we can all feel welcome to share our ideas. Please feel free to email me at eminjapan@gmail.com if you have any questions.